Correspondence from E. S. Peyton and several other citizens to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; May 20, 1871

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Correspondence from E. S. Peyton and several other citizens to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; May 20, 1871

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People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Buntley, Jeremy Buntley, Moses Catchings, R. J.Dabney, Clay Dunning, H.Handy, E.Haney, S. P.Hewson, H. F.Hudson, Henry Hunter, William Mortimer, George J.Peyton, E. S., Jr.Peyton, M. H.Peyton, W. B.Robison, John J.S?, M. B.Stone, William A.

Events

Legislation. United States. Congress Legislation. United States. Congress. Third Reconstruction Act (1867)Political Office--Appointment to office Political elections

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Chancery Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Probate courts Mississippi--Executive Department Newspapers Newspapers--Mississippi. The Copiahan (Copiah County)Political Parties--Democratic Party (U.S.)Political Parties--Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )United States--Congress

Occupations

Banking and Finance--Treasurers City Council Members Clerks Legal Profession--Judges Legal Profession--Judges. Justices of the peace Mayors Politicians Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Copiah County Mississippi--Copiah County. Gallatin Mississippi--Copiah County. Hazlehurst

Page 1

Gallatin, Miss, May 20^th, 1871.

To His Excellency J. L. Alcorn
Governor

My Dear Sir:

Language in its pov=erty is utterly inadequate to describe my feelings of astonishment and regret upon receiving information of the removal of Mr R. J. Catchings from the Mayoralty of Hazlehurst in this county and the appointment in his stead of Mr W. A. Stone. I am deeply pained at the removal of Mr Catchings cause he is a gentleman, honest, capable and faithful. Always at his post in the discharge of duty, he has won the admiration and respect of men irrespective of party. His character is above reproach. The darts of slander never fell more harmless at the foot of any man. If charges of malfeasance in office have been preferred against him, they are false, utterly false, or else I am a most deluded man, but if true they ought to have been substantiated by proof sufficient to satis=fy any reasonable man of his guilt.

It is a principle of law and justice that no man should be condemned and punished without an opportu-nity to refute accusations against him. This principle has stood the ravages of time—a shield and a protection to innocence. Had an opportunity been allowed, Mr Ca=tchings would have refuted the accusations against him and put his accusers to shame.

Were Mr Catchings guilty of any impropriety in office it would be far from me to utter one word in his behalf. No man is more willing than I, when charges of malfea=sance in office, or otherwise, are preferred against a man,

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to enter into a thorough investigation of the matter, bring to light guilt if possible, and when this is done to filtch from office the villain who is corrupt, dishonest, and un-faithful ^to^ the best interests of the people.

Mr Catchings has very properly the confidence of the Repub=lican party and his removal will cast a cloud of doubt and uncertainty over the party. Many—despairing of success—will become lukewarm.

As ^to^ the gentleman, who rumor says, is to be the successor of Mr Catchings, I dislike to say any=thing. When I can not speak well of a man I prefer to be silent. But to be absolutely silent now would be wrong. As to Stone^s integrity and intellect I would cheerfully abide the candid judgment of any member of the bar who knows him. Stone has been for many years en=gaged in the mine of jurisprudence—endeavoring to ex=tract from ^it^ legal learning, but from some cause—per=haps a disability which nature has imposed upon him, men learned in the law have never attributed to him success in the business. He is a man who has ever been regarded as a democrat of the deepest dye—a real bitter ender. He exerted his influence, which I assure you is very little, to defeat in the late canvas and will al=ways do it. He is a man of no personal popularity.

The last time he went before the people of Copiah for office my brother M. H. Peyton beat him (and two other candidates) shamefully before the white people for Probate Judge. Stone got ~~one~~ 141 out of 1200 votes. At Hazlehurst where he lives he got 38 out of 200. At Gal=

=latin he got 4 out of 114 votes. These facts I have gathered from the election returns as printed in the "Copiahan" and put in my scrap—book. These are record facts showing the extent of Stones popularity. This election took place after the war but before the passage of the Reconstruction Acts. I can not possibly conceive of any thing that recommends Stone for the office, I am satisfied in my own mind that you have been deceived in this matter. There=fore I hope you will reconsider the matter and re=tain Mr Catchings.

I am, in the broadest acceptation of the Term,
Your Devoted friend,

E. S. Peyton Jr

Page 3

[seal]

Office of
Circuit Clerk, Copiah County.
Gallatin, Miss. May 20th 1871

To His Excellency J. L. Alcorn
Governor &c

Sir

The undersigned have learned with regret of the removal of Mr R J Catch=ing from the Mayoralty of Hazlehurst in this County. and the appointment in his stead of W. A. Stone. We believe the facts have been misrepresented to Your Excellency, and the appointment of Stone will have a most pernicious effect tending to de-feat, as it will certainly discourage, the Republi-can party in this County. Stone, will ^be^ a mischivous tool in the hands of bad and designing men. & will will without doubt in the future, as he has in the past exert the influence of his position to defeat the Republican party of this County. In view of these facts, We therefore represent to Your Ex-cellency the importance, in our judgment of revoking Mr Stones appointment, and should the removal of Mr Catching (Which We protest against) det

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termined upon, that a Republican be appointed, and at least, not a sworn ene-my of all republican doctrines—

It is an important point, during an election, under republican auspices the election would ^be^, (if could be) properly and fairly conducted, but under the administration of Stone, or other demoratic appointees, we may expect the renactment of the scenes of 1868—

With sentiments of the high-est esteem we are &c

H. Dunning Circuit Clerk
Geo J Mortimer
Jeremy ^his X mark^ Buntley
Member school Board
Clay ^his X mark^ Dabney
[?] [?]
M. H. Peyton J. P.

Stone is an extreme Democrat, and I protest against his appointment. E. Handy

Moses Buntley
M. B. S?
S. P. Haney Clk
Chancery Court

Page 5

I do most ernestly recomend the reinstallment of R. J. Catchings as mayer and John. J. Robison and William Hunter as Aldermen of the town of Hazlehurst

I would accept the apportment of aldermn under the administration of R. J. Catchings as Mayor. But I cannot accept an appointment un under William. A. Stone. or any other Democratic Mayor.

Henry Hudson
W. B. Peyton Treas. Copiah Co.

Page 6

PRECIS.
[gap]

No'. [gap]

Executive Office,
State of Mississippi,
County of Copiah

From E. S. Peyton & others
Address Gallatin
Dated May 20th 1871
Received [gap]
Answered [gap]

Recommed that R. J. Catchings be reinstated as Mayor of Hazlehurst

JAMES L. ALCORN,
Governor.

H. F. HEWSON,
Private Secretary.